Stephen Lawrence ("Steve") Winwood (born May 12, 1948 in Great Barr, Birmin… Read Full Bio ↴Stephen Lawrence ("Steve") Winwood (born May 12, 1948 in Great Barr, Birmingham, England) is a British singer, songwriter, and musician who, in addition to his solo career, was a member of the bands the The Spencer Davis Group, recording the hit "Gimme Some Lovin'", Traffic, and Blind Faith. Winwood's commercial success waned during the mid and late 70's. He had a major hit with While You See A Chance in 1980. He had a career renaissance beginning in 1986 with the hit album Back in the High Life which produced hits such as Higher Love and The Finer Things.

Winwood released a new album "Nine Lives" on April 29, 2008, and started a tour with Tom Petty and others in May 2008.

Take it As It Comes
Steve Winwood Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Raise the window on another day
Gotta take it as it comes
Just an actor waiting for a new play
Gotta take it as it comes

Ask me to dance, I will dance for you
Ask me to sing, you see what I do
If you feel sad, I'll make jokes for you

I'm a handyman, I'm still coming through

If you suffer from a broken heart
Gotta take it as it comes
If your lover tears your world all apart
Gotta take it as it comes

I've played a king and a down and out fool
Some like it hot and some like it cool
Do what they want, but don't be their tool
Savor the throne but don't mind the stool

Carry on, carry on, carry on

If they go too far, that's the way things are
Though it may hurt some, take it as it comes, oh

We're all skating on the thinnest of ice
Gotta take it as it comes
In a world that isn't so very nice
Gotta take it as it comes

Any day now the curtain may fall
All the plays end, there's no curtain call
If you live sad, or it you walk tall
We're written on wind that's a long haul

Carry on, carry on, carry on

If they go too far, that's the way things are
Though your mind gets numb, take it as it comes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steve Winwood's song "Take It As It Comes" are about resilience in the face of life's ups and downs. The song begins by acknowledging the unpredictability of life, with the singer saying that he has to "take it as it comes," and later repeating the phrase "carry on" as a reminder to keep moving forward no matter what. The message is that we can't always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond to it.

The second verse focuses on the singer's ability to adapt to different situations, whether it's dancing, singing, or making jokes to cheer someone up. He also acknowledges that heartbreak is inevitable, and encourages listeners to again, take it as it comes. The singer then reflects on the different roles he's played in his life, comparing them to a king and a fool, and saying that it's important to find a balance between being confident and not being taken advantage of.

The final verse brings it back to the theme of life's uncertainties and the importance of remaining resilient in the face of them. The line "we're all skating on the thinnest of ice" is a metaphor for how fragile life can be, and how easily things can come crashing down. Despite this, the singer urges listeners to take it as it comes, whether it's living sad or walking tall.

Overall, "Take It As It Comes" is a song about the importance of resilience, adaptation, and acceptance in the face of life's unpredictability.

Line by Line Meaning

Raise the window on another day
Another day has started, and it's time to face it

Gotta take it as it comes
Accept whatever happens, both good and bad

Just an actor waiting for a new play
Steve sees the world as a stage and everyone as actors waiting for their next role

Ask me to dance, I will dance for you
Steve is willing to do things for others if asked

Ask me to sing, you see what I do
Steve is confident in his singing ability and is willing to perform for others

If you feel sad, I'll make jokes for you
Steve is willing to try to cheer up someone who is feeling down

I'm a handyman, I'm still coming through
Steve is resourceful and reliable, even in difficult situations

If you suffer from a broken heart
Steve acknowledges the pain of a broken heart

If your lover tears your world all apart
Steve recognizes the devastating impact of a failed relationship

I've played a king and a down and out fool
Steve has experienced both success and failure in his life

Some like it hot and some like it cool
Everyone has their own preferences

Do what they want, but don't be their tool
Steve encourages people to stay true to themselves, rather than conforming to others' expectations

Savor the throne but don't mind the stool
Enjoy success, but don't forget where you came from

If they go too far, that's the way things are
People can sometimes push boundaries, but it's just part of life

Though it may hurt some, take it as it comes, oh
Even if something hurts, just accept it and move on

We're all skating on the thinnest of ice
Life is unpredictable, and anything can happen at any moment

In a world that isn't so very nice
The world can be a harsh and unforgiving place

Any day now the curtain may fall
Life is temporary and can end at any moment

All the plays end, there's no curtain call
Eventually, everything comes to an end; there's no final encore

If you live sad, or it you walk tall
Regardless of how you live your life, it will eventually come to an end

We're written on wind that's a long haul
Our lives are fleeting, like the wind that blows

Though your mind gets numb, take it as it comes
Even if something is difficult, just accept it and keep going

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEVE WINWOOD, WILL JENNINGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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